What Is Special Education?

Approximately ten percent of all students receive special education services.

Special education has existed for about thirty-five years and continues to be
redefined as the years go by. Prior to 1975, there were no federal guidelines for
educating students with special needs. In several cases, these students were sent
to a school designed for special needs, put into an institution, or in some cases,
kept at home. Many special needs children didn't receive a diploma. In 1975, with
the passing of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, schools were
required to provide an education for all special needs children. Thus, the birth of
special education.

Before special education took effect, many disabled children would not receive
the proper education. They were often mistreated and frowned upon. For over 30
years, special education has changed the lives of children with special needs,
enabling a safe learning environment for all.
All children, regardless of a disability, deserve the right to an education with
fellow peers. They should not be pushed aside, but embraced and treated equally.
Being in the same school environment as children without disabilities helps them
to learn appropriate social skills. Plus, special needs students won't feel like an
outcast because of their disability.

Being a teacher that works with special education students can be an extremely
challenging, yet rewarding job. These teachers have to provide one on one
teaching care and focus on the individual needs of each student.

Emotionally Disturbed, Learning Disabled, Mental Retardation and Other Health

Impaired are just a few of the qualifying categories for special education.
According to Federal Guidelines, any child who meets the specified criteria for one
of the areas of disability, and demonstrates a need for special services, is eligible
to receive special education.

So what is special education? It's providing an educational program uniquely

designed for a student with special needs. For children ages 3 through 5, the
Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) is responsible for special
education and related services. For school age children, the Committee on Special
Education (CSE) is responsible to meet the needs of special needs children.

Typically, an evaluation is done to determine the child's disability and need for
services. The CPSE or CSE committee meets to review the evaluation results and
to write an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). The plan includes: educational
goals, modifications, related services, social/emotional/physical needs, and
current learning levels. Modifications might include revising worksheets or rubrics.
The need for in-servicing teachers or providing teacher resources is also discussed.
Once an IEP is agreed upon, it becomes a legal document for a year.
Thanks to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act), a stronger effort has
been made to educate special needs children within their district's school. Schools
are responsible in educating special needs children in the least restrictive
environment, also known as LRE. In many schools, the inclusion model has been
implemented. With this model, special needs children are placed in the general
education classes and modifications and special instructions are provided in those
classes by the special educator or a teacher assistant, under the direct supervision
of the special educator. When appropriate, the related services, such as speech,
occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), etc. are provided in the general
education setting as well. For students with physical needs, such as muscular
dystrophy, a 1:1 aide might be assigned to the child.
 Effective Teaching Strategies for Special Education
This post has been updated as of December 2017.
Looking for effective teaching strategies for your special education classroom? These
quick suggestions should come in handy for teachers working with special-needs
students who pose certain challenges.

Working with short attention spans

 Set clear expectations for all students.
 Break assignments into smaller pieces to work on in short time periods.
 Space breaks between assignments so students can refocus on their tasks.
 Share ideas with parents so they can help with homework.
 Carry out everyday routines consistently.
 Develop a reward system for good behavior, completing work on time and participating
in class.
 Use visual and auditory reminders to change from one activity to the next. This may
need to be done several times before the change is made. An egg timer is a good
auditory tool that indicates a signal to begin or end an activity.

Managing constant change

The science behind teaching special education students is not cut-and-dry, and the
strategies that teachers develop for their classrooms shouldn’t be permanent—instead,
think scalable and flexible.

 Design teaching aids and lessons that are flexible.

 Add creativity to lessons and homework.
 Develop easy-to-use monitoring tools that are needs-based.
 Design lesson plans that can be modified to fit each student.
 Develop a set of resources and interventions that work.

Teaching effectively
Being an effective teacher requires many tools, most of which you likely choose through
trial and error. Effective teaching strategies include:

 Use a multiple-scenario approach to developing lesson plans.

 Monitor and verify student responses to lessons.
 Evaluate and adapt lessons as necessary.
 Use peers to review lesson plans and to develop ideas that might be applicable.
 Develop and maintain a pool of mentors.
 Keep a list of resources for teaching, lesson plans, and professional development.
 Set a professional development plan for yourself and track your goals.
 Develop or implement a system that allows for easy and comprehensive data collection
to help monitor and adapt lessons.
 Gather some tricks of the trade from fellow teachers, including those who do not teach
special education.
For more ideas, printables, and reading materials, check out TeacherVision’s
resources for teachers of special needs students; we love the wealth of information and
advice on their site.